Diyarbakir Lawyer: Officer's Confessions Carefully Timed

Sezgin Tanrikulu, the president of the Diyarbakir Bar Association has reacted to officer Sarizeybek's published confessions by saying that former soldiers only make such statements when they are sure that the statute of limitations applies.

Officer Erdal Sarizeybek has published a book in which he admits to deliberately pretending to be battling PKK militants at Semdinli town (province of Hakkari in the south-east of Turkey) and to dressing soldiers in PKK uniforms.

"Interesting and important" confession 

According to Tanrikulu, "Most probably the events he wrote about would have been investigated within the framework of "abuse of position". It is interesting and important that former soldiers wait for enough time to pass before they make such statements, so that the statute of limitations applies and they can be sure to evade punishment."

It is interesting, because "it is an indication of the future. It shows that those doing duty in that area [in the East and South-East] have got a lot to say."

It is important, because "up to now we have been drawing attention to the illegality, violations, killings and kidnappings in the region. We said, 'the perpetrators are known.' Now it is being admitted."

Not the first 

Tanrikulu also drew attention to the statements of retired corps commander Altay Tokat, who said that during his time on duty in the South-East, he "had one or two bombs dropped to bring the judges and civil servants into line". Tokat was first tried in a civil court, but the case was then sent to the General Staff Military Chief Prosecutor, who decided to dismiss proceedings.

Military influence in Semdinli trial 

The current "Semdinli trial", concerned with the bombing of a bookshop in Semdinli in November 2005, at which two junior officers and a PKK informant were arrested, has also been pulled between civilian and military courts. The Van 3rd Heavy Penal Court had finally decided that a military court should judge the defendants.

No justice without resolution 

Tanrikulu has called for a complete investigation into the time of armed conflict, in which many rights violations were experienced. He said, "We cannot have justice without calling people to account for that period. We need to do this for our future."

Birdal: Will take case to Parliamentary Human Rights Commission 

Diyarbakir MP Akin Birdal of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) has announced that the case would be taken to the Human Rights Commission of the Parliament. The commission meets on 1 October, the same day that parliament opens. Birdal, who is a former president of the Human Rights Association (IHD), pointed out that human rights activists had long reported on soldiers pretending to be PKK members:

"There were many claims and indicators. It has been said that PKK uniforms were put on, that soldiers introduced themselves as PKK members and raided houses, that they asked people for support in the disguise. If they received help, people were accused of aiding and abetting. If they did not receive help, people were tortured, maltreated or killed." (TK/AG)